The United States-based Pew Research Center which provides information on social issues, public opinion, and demographic trends shaping the world and the United States has published the results of a study focused on global usage of internet. The Pew Research Center survey was conducted among 36,619 people in 32 emerging and developing countries.
According to the Pew Research Center about 20 per cent of the population in India have access to the internet at least occasionally while a mere 14 per cent own a smartphone. Further, 65 per cent of internet users in India use social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter while 55 per cent have used the internet to look for or apply for a job.
Globally, across the 32 nations surveyed, a median of 44 per cent use the internet at least occasionally, either through smartphones or other devices. Access rates vary considerably across the emerging and developing nations surveyed. A few of the world?s most heavily populated nations in South and Southeast Asia have the lowest internet access rate. These include Indonesia, where only 24 per cent of the population has access to the internet, India (20 per cent), Bangladesh (11 per cent) and Pakistan (8 per cent). Combined, these countries account for about a quarter of the world?s population.
The study results indicate that internet usage is more common among young people, the well-educated and those who have the ability to read or speak English. Overall, a median of 64 per cent users are of the view that the internet has a positive impact on education, personal relationships (53 per cent) and the economy (52 per cent). Interestingly, respondents in emerging and developing nations are of the view that the internet is having a negative effect on morality. A median of 42 per cent believe it is a bad influence on morality, while only 29 per cent term internet as a good influence.
Socialising is the most preferred digital activity for internet users in emerging and developing nations. Majority of the population across nations use cyberspace for getting information about politics, health care and government services. Less common are commercial and career activities, such as searching or applying for a job, making or receiving payments, buying products and taking online classes.
